Saturday, February 18, 2006

I was thinking of lots of other things this morning; such as the desire to eat samousas for breakfast, the lack of water even though it is raining and has done so for 24 hours, why there is a small disease ridden mangy kitten on my doorstep, when that great rainbow smile illuminating the folly of human existence brought me back to Chikungunya...

... nobody talks of anything else and yet nobody is prepared to accept responsibility for the epedemic or its resulting eco/enviro problems. The Journal the other day announced the 47 chik related deaths with a photo of the mosquito responsible and the huge banner "He kills".

Now, let us put this into some sort of perspective. One, this is not malaria (that'll probably turn up after bird flu and before anthrax) and most of all it is not really the Aedes mosquito that is too blame. What manner of heresy is this?

Chikungunya* is spread by the bite of an /Aedes /mosquito,primarily /Aedes aegypti/. Humans are thought to be the majorsource, or reservoir, of *chikungunya* virus for mosquitoes.Therefore, the mosquito usually transmits the disease bybiting an infected person and then biting someone else. Aninfected person cannot spread the infection directly to otherpersons (i.e., it is not a contagious disease).

The Aedes has been around for a long time and is even to be found in Europe and, of course, throughout the tropics. However, it is not the mosquito that manufactures the virus as a biological weapon in its fight against humanity. Oh no, no it is we the human that carry the virus and the Aedes is merely the messenger. To put it another way, if a human didn't have the virus it couldn't be communicated by the mosquito to another human. One does not kill the postperson, nor the whole postal infrastructure, merely because the postperson brings bills.

Of course we can always take precautions that there are not too many postpersons...

Because humans act as very efficient reservoirs for the virus,*chikungunya* is most prevalent in urban areas. Epidemics aresustained by the human-mosquito-human transmission cycle.The /Aedes /mosquitoes that transmit *chikungunya* breed in awide variety of manmade containers which are commonaround human dwellings. These containers collect rainwater,and include discarded tires, flowerpots, old oil drums, animalwater troughs, water storage vessels, and plastic foodcontainers.Widespread poverty, year-round tropical climate, environ-mental disturbance due to war or natural disaster, and lack ofpublic health infrastructure are all factors that promoteuncontrolled mosquito breeding and are conducive tooutbreaks of *chikungunya*, or other mosquito-borne diseases. (ibid)

So, if this analogy is all proving a bit to obscure try thinking of it like this:

If you don't want to receive gas bills in the post, don't use the gas. If you insist on using the gas, electric, water, telephone etc etc then we will need a bigger postal service and you will receive more and more bills.

Look, I have no idea where the chik virus comes from nor where it is going to. Diseases are a fact of life and, like the plague, it is us - you and me - that create the conditions for their proliferation. Now, what was it in the "Matrix" about the human race being akin to a virus?

TB wasn't almost eradicated in the West due to the introduction of antibiotics but to the increase in education, social welfare and good drains! If it is returning in the West in a bigger, better and more ugly form it is not the fault of a clueless bacteria but a clueless and irresponsible humanity.

By all means squash the mosquito but do not expect it to be responsible for all our woes.

I received a missive from the French Embassy in London the other day. It told me that the CHIK is an illness that is "pandemic" in the Indian Ocean. It is interesting to note how the problem is becoming universalised both literally and metaphorically. They also inform me that there have been NO deaths related to the virus...

... the embassy obviously do not read the local press, or for a rather more balanced and pragmatic approach the words of the epidemiologist, Philippe Quénel :

Why this is interesting is not solely for the damage control hastily put in place by the various departments of the French establishment, but also because it highlights the total lack of communication in an age of communication.

For example, the embassy tell me that treatment for the symptoms is with anti-inflammatories and pain killers, but NOT cortisones or asprin derivatives. Odd that all the people I know of who have had the Chik have been prescribed both the above!

Look, if "our" reaction when a relatively benign virus arrives on the shores of a tropical island is to run around like a headless chicken whilst the head squaks rumours, rubbish and paternalist neo colonial clap trap what will happen when the chicken gets the flu?

The Journal this morning tells of the military invading a wake and "flytoxing" the vicinity at two in the morning. One is always slightly concerned about using the military in public health matters as it sorta goes against the ethos of being military, but when they start acting like "Ghostbusters" one has right to be concerned.

photo credits The Journal

Yeah! I know it is easy to criticise, but I do live here and will get the Chik tomorrow if not this morning. Besides, my family are still coming to visit at the end of March and I have not thought about cancelling. Errr, what was that about Norman Fowler's hamburger? ;-)

In the meantime lets hope Chirac doesn't dock the Clemenceau here claiming it has returned to "France" and looking to the future and bird flu :

Monday, February 13, 2006

"We" have started to stop using nasty chemicals and are now using 'deltmethrine'. This is nicer, but not so nice that it is banned in Denmark for outside use. Denmark? Now where I have I read about that small European country lately?...

Have a browse through EU directives on pesticides and you will discover that "Téméphos", which is currently being sprayed willy nilly across the land, is on the list of not very nice chemicals and, in theory at any rate has long since ceased to be available.

Is this a case of needs must or...

Tebutam (aka butam) Tebuthiuron [1] Temephos [1] Terbumeton Tetrachlorvinphos [1] Tetramethrin ThiazopyrActives not supported or obsoleteAll other pesticides listed have not been supported by the manufacturers under the EU review of Directive 91/414. All those that do not have an ‘essential use’ derogation will be withdrawn on: 24 July 2003 – last day for sale by any person; 31 December 2003 – last day for use; 31 March 2004 – last day for storage (for disposal purposes only).

[1] = Hazard flag and thought to be still registered for use in some countriesThese pesticides are hazardous according to government and institutional sources as noted in the PAN North American database (www.pesticideinfo.org) or are World Health Organisation Class I pesticides (which are either considered Ia Extremely Hazardous or Ib Highly Hazardous):

Known or probable carcinogens, as designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), U.S. EPA, U.S. National Toxicology Program, and the state of California’s Proposition 65 list.

Reproductive or developmental toxicants, as designated by the state of California’s Proposition 65 list.

Supposing that you are wondering if "fenitrothion" is also on the list. Well, no it is not there to be removed and most countries seem to like it; except that is the Canadians -

Severely restricted. Use discontinued in all parts of Canada except New Brunswick. Adverse effects on the aquatic environment, migratory songbirds and bees.

Hey, wait a mo', isn't this an island and what is that about "aquatic life"?

The substance is very toxic to aquatic organisms. This substance may be hazardous to the environment; special attention should be given to crustacea and honey bees. In the food chain important to humans, bioaccumulation takes place, specifically in fish. source

Never mind we have only been vapourising it in public places...

PREVENT GENERATION OF MISTS! AVOID EXPOSURE OF ADOLESCENTS AND CHILDREN!source

Fortunately, there are some brave and intelligent souls such as those in the commune of Le Port who have not given the State carte blanche and have refused the above pesticides on the grounds of their toxicity. (see The "Quotidien" 08/02/2006 page 13).

It reminds one of those heady days when nuclear proliferation was a great game for statesmen whose sole preoccupation was to save face even if it cost the Earth. One must wonder who stands to lose face here?

Wednesday, February 08, 2006

I suppose that you are all bored to tears (crocodile or othewise) of all this plague stuff. Well me too - it seems that everyone is over-reacting and now not only is the pesticide used to be banned by the EU later this year (better sell the stocks of quick, what better route to a conspiracy methinks!) but I have written to the French embassy asking their advice for travellers...

Dear Sir,

Currently the chikungunya epidemic is still spread over La Reunion. According to 'l'Institut de Veille Sanitaire', many people have been infected and there are some cases of deaths.

Unfortunately no vaccine exists to be immune to such a disease.Consequently we advise you to be very careful if you should go there.

Yours faithfully, Press Department French Embassy

... me say nothing!

... by the way I found this one at home this afternoon. Cute in a funny Ripley b movie sorta way.

Thursday, February 02, 2006

I was hoping that I could come up with something more interesting than mosquito borne viruses but then...

...The local papers are having a whale of a time; man dies of heart attack and it is because of the Chik (hence the mossie, hence the fault of the doctor etc... these ellipsis could go on for a long time) This morning baby develops burns because she is given an anti-inflammatory coz she has chikungunya - who is too blame? Well, everyone it seems...

I was hoping that my apocalytic scenario of insecticide induced fatalities was something of a childish rant but this morning the "Quotidien" reports that the chameleon population is being decimated by the wanton use of highly toxic pesticides. This paper doesn't have a website so you'll just have to believe me (or not). The journal does have a website, unfortunately ;-) Today, I learnt that birds are dying all over the place - martyrs for the cause against the nihilistic mosquito.I also learnt that the military are going back to school to learn how to defeat the enemy...

...look, is it just me or is all this getting silly? Those big boots should crush a few rebellious mossies...

I am told that above all the health of the human population is paramount. These sorts of ridiculous phrases are only uttered by those Cartesian Connards who believe that the human race is removed, and therefore untouched, by Nature. Would somebody please wake up to the fact that wiping out the insect population of an island (next time it'll be a planet) is not the first step on the road to harmonious and sustainable development. Nature, of course, will find a way and it is pleasing to note the comments of an aging islander that two days after the passage of the "mosquito commando" (I kid you not!) the mosquitos had returned, alas not much was said about the bees, ladybirds and other "cuddly" insects on which we all depend for a little equilibrium.

Whilst I have still yet to succumb to the blight, I wonder whether the fact that I am undergoing a giant spider invasion has anything to do with it?